Weekly Unemployment Claims Hit 6.6 Million As U.S. Grapples With Outbreak

Unemployment applications are seen as City of Hialeah employees hand them out to people in front of the John F. Kennedy Library on April 08, 2020 in Hialeah, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

EDITORS' NOTE: TPM is making our COVID-19 coverage free to all readers during this national health crisis. If you’d like to support TPM's reporters, editors and staff, the best way to do so is to become a member.

As the COVID-19 outbreak engulfs the nation, unemployment claims in the U.S. reached 6.6. million last week ending on April 4, the Labor Department reported on Thursday morning.